I'm finding that I'm sure a lot happier working my program if I find little ways to be naughty doing it. My life seems to go from gray to living color when I can let the little devil have a tidbit of joy. Of course, I can't let the devil take over--that's what got me into trouble in the first place! But I'm finding that when I can just make peace with the naughty side of my nature, I am living with a lot more balance and joy. The rules are so much easier to follow!


The devil really IS in the details! And that is a good thing.

I'm playing with the theory that I have to find devilish (non destructive) ways of putting color into my life. I believe that this will help me in my maintenance program, and just make me a happier person to be around.

I'd appreciate suggestions here. What little devil-y kinds of things do you do to bring yourself joy and making following the rules bearable? I'm not looking for the big vacation adventure stuff ( I KNOW what to do then). Instead, I'm looking for the stuff you do in a normal day that makes you have a little spring in your step...

I am really organized usually in my 'real' life but I love spontainaity. So, here are a few things that I sometimes do when I feel I am getting in a rut:

Do you drive the same way to a destination every single time? Take a different road and make sure you have the time to stop if you see an out of the way shop or boutique or just a junky old place that looks interesting.

Buy a magazine that you would never think about reading and sit down with a hot cup of tea or the beverage of your choice and read it cover to cover.

I won't even go into what I do for inspiration in cooking!

Go try on a style of clothes that you really don't think is right for you.

Buy a CD of music that you have never listened to before and walk around those glorious woods and trails of yours listening to it.

Pick a direction, tell hubby that you are going to both drive 100 miles in that direction, stay the night in the first motel you come to and go explore that town the next day.

Okay, now you know I am totally nuts but it really is just a matter of doing SOMETHING, ANYTHING that is out of your comfort zone.

One thing that's essential for me is to love my hair everyday. I've been going to the
same salon since WLS... they have taken me from frumpy to edgy! And I LOVE the
everyday difference. Yes, I pay more to go there, but I have never gotten a bad cut..
the colorist always makes my hair GLOW and I love the darling gals who do the
beautiful work there! This is my one extravagance that makes me a lot happier and
more confident every day of my little life. I would highly recommend finding a GREAT
stylist and colorist! They're worth their weight in gold!

I go to the thrift stores when I need a 'pick me up', and see if I can find antique furniture that needs to be refinished...take it home...and spend hours in my garage turning this frumpy old beat up thing into something new. For me, it is exactly what I am doing to myself and my body...so watching something spectacular emerge is special to me. Then I take it back to the thrift store, and they put it as consignment...sell it, and I donate the money back to them. I can spend weeks on one piece...and it is calming too!

Marianna... you are indeed an angel!
This was supposed to naughty stuff!

Hey y'all, I'm new here. (and on day 2 of my 5dpt) I just HAD to reply to this post!

I agree that the devil is definitely in the details.

All of y'all had some great ideas of things to do to distract the mind. I employ many of these methods myself, and am working at getting even better at it.

I'm a mischievous person and one of my favorite things to do is make a random funny card out of magazine clippings. So many things are so funny when taken out of context. Then I'll leave it on a friends car under the wiper or in someone's box at work with no signature or anything. It's so much fun to make someone else laugh and also bewilder the heck out of them ("...where did this thing come from??")

Anyway, thought I'd pass that one along. That's my devilish contribution.

Linda

I love to go through the entire house and gather up every single candle that I own and put them around my bathroom and take a super long hot bubble bath with my music. The best is if you have just done a fresh load of towels and have them nice and warm out of the dryer waiting for you as well. I usually use 10 times that amount of bubble bath required and then still need a shower afterwards to wash it all off. That with maybe just half a glass of wine.
I can't do any of this right now so can I live vicariously through any of you all....

You don't have little ones anymore but the most delvishes thing I have done is set their bedroom clock ahead like 20 minutes to get them into bed earlier so I could have alone time with Les a bit earlier in the evening. They needed their sleep anyway they are growing boys, lol.

Wearing my prettiest undergarments to work and then sending Les a text message just to let him know always puts a spring in both of our steps for the day.

The only other thing that I can think of is food related and probably not what you meant but one piece of perfect chocolate savored after the perfect dinner sounds divine right now...

Why Mickeefynn...I nevah! Naughty things...and me in the same sentence? For SHAME...LOL!

I put lingerie on under my daily attire for that 'spring in my step' and an additional grin on my face. I like to remember that even if no one else can see it...I know it is there...kinda like my issues within myself. Others might not be able to see the fat girl I still am inside...but I know she is there. It is up to me, to keep that old part of me...restrained.

These are all some great ideas you guys...they don't seem that "naughty" to me, but I guess this IS a public forum... Thank you for giving me some places to start to expand my naughty repertoire! Any one else wanna jump in to this mess?

What a fun thread!

For me, I like to go to overpriced stores and try on things that I could never afford to buy. $500 for a pair of shoes...crazy, but so much fun to see on my feet. Holding a $1000 purse (hi Julie S!!!). Putting on a $1500 dress. OH, and trying on a $300 bra!!! Told the gal that I'd have bought it if they'd have had my size...yeah right!!!

xoxo

Yeah, Kim, I'll NEVER forget the lingerie store in Vegas. That was just plain old naughty on so many levels... What fun. I wish every day could have a laugh like that! And the whole day was like that. What a special memory...

I was thinking of stuff like laying around until 2 in my pjs or calling in sick and watching old movies on TCM or something. This is right up my alley now!

My naughtly thing at the moment is riding my motorcycle. My dad would "roll over" if he knew I was doing such a thing. I look forward to getting the rest of this weight off so that I can find safety gear that actually fits instead of making due. In the mean time though I'm still having a blast.

yeah Jas, this is a naughty little pleasure. I very much admire this. good going. i may have to give this another try, I find it appealing..

Sandi I find it fun and a bit on the BAD GIRL side at the same time. I already knew how to drive a stick so the bigger issue for me was learning to control the bike leaning into turns and slow speed manuvers. I took the MSF course which really helped.